Alex Salmond: Nicola Sturgeon did not cover anything up
Mr Salmond, who was acquitted of 13 charges in criminal court, won a judicial review which found the government’s investigation was “tainted by apparent bias”.
He alleges that Scotland’s first minister made a “malicious and concerted” attempt to rid him of a political future and claims she broke the ministerial code.
However, Ms Sturgeon, whose political future is at stake, strongly denies the allegations, saying there is not “a shred of evidence” to support them.
Earlier this week, written statements by two former SNP officials contradicted Ms Sturgeon’s version of events. Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives have called on her to resign over her government’s mishandling of the investigation.
The feud is extremely damaging for Scotland, with former prime minister Gordon Brown saying it is “bringing the country down”.
Sturgeon likely to be ‘exonerated’ by inquiry, says Blackford
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, said he was confident Nicola Sturgeon will “exonerated” after appearing before the Holyrood inquiry.
Speaking shortly ahead of her appearance, Mr Blackford told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday: “She is a woman of integrity and honesty and I fully expect that at the end of this process, and we are very close to that, that the first minister will be exonerated and in particular will be exonerated by the standards commissioner.”
Rory Sullivan3 March 2021 08:45
First minister is fighting for her political future
For those who missed it earlier this week, here’s Sean O’Grady’s analysis of the Sturgeon-Salmond saga.
He looks at Ms Sturgeon’s political rise and the implications of her potential fall.
Rory Sullivan3 March 2021 08:30
Sturgeon to appear before Salmond inquiry at 9am
Douglas Ross, the leader of the Scottish Tories, alleges that Nicola Sturgeon lied to Holyrood and broke the ministerial code over an investigation into her predecessor Alex Salmond.
However, Ms Sturgeon has not yet presented her evidence to the Salmond inquiry.
The first minister will appear before it at 9am and questioning is expected to last several hours.
Rory Sullivan3 March 2021 08:15
Scottish Tories call on Sturgeon to resign
Scottish Conservatives have called on Nicola Sturgeon to resign after the publication of previously secret legal advice on the investigation into Alex Salmond.
This appears to confirm Mr Salmond’s suggestion that lawyers told the Scottish government the case against him would fail several months before it publicly conceded in January 2019.
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Rory Sullivan3 March 2021 07:55
Morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live blog on events in Holyrood.
Rory Sullivan3 March 2021 07:51